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Technique for adjusting the locus of excitation of electrically excitable tissue

  • US 6,988,006 B2
  • Filed: 09/20/2002
  • Issued: 01/17/2006
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/04/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for inducing action potentials at an adjustable locus of electrically excitable tissue of an organism, comprising in combination:

  • (A) at least one return electrode capable of being disposed within the organism;

    (B) a plurality of electrodes adapted to be implanted adjacent to the tissue and forming an array of a first group of electrodes in an inner ring formation and a second group of electrodes in an outer ring formation;

    (C) a first set of at least one electrode of the first group of electrodes capable of being driven with a first pulse;

    (D) a second set of at least one electrode of the second group of electrode capable of being driven with a second pulse;

    (E) a generator configured to provide the first and second pulses to the first and second sets with respect to the return electrode to cause a steerable electric field, and to provide a potential to cause at least one of the outer ring of electrodes to become anodal thereby causing the electric field to be contained within a certain region and causing outer tissue to be shielded from activation; and

    wherein the first pulse has a first begin time and a first end time and the second pulse has a second begin time and a second end time, and wherein the generator is further configured to adjust a time delay between the first end time of the first pulse and the second begin time of the second pulse, wherein the time delay determines a size and location of a suprathreshold potential area.

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